SYDNEY  – As Australia gets set to reopen international borders after 18 months, recent research carried out by Omnipoll on behalf of Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), the leading innovator in global cruise travel, reveals that 90% of Australians believe taking a holiday is an important contributor to their sense of mental wellbeing.

The survey[i], conducted nationally in the lead up to World Mental Health Day (Sunday 10 October), also showed the way we holiday is changing, with increasing recognition for the benefits of mindfulness – including being able to clear your mind and enjoy the present moment – considered a holiday benefit by 94% of Australians who intend to travel over the next 12 months. The same number of respondents said the excitement and sense of emotional wellbeing kicked in the moment they started to plan their holiday.

Other top-rated benefits of holidays were the ability to spend time and connect with family and loved ones (93%), feeling free to do what you want, when you want (93%), and simply feeling happier (95%).

“It's no surprise holidays bring happiness, but this survey also reveals that the sense of joy and anticipation you feel right at the planning stages contributes positively to your overall sense of mental wellbeing,” said Ben Angell, VP & Managing Director NCL APAC. "What's more, the trend of mindful travel is clear, as restrictions force us to reconsider our perspective on travel. It's now more of a privilege than ever before, which means when we can finally explore the world again, we will do so more meaningfully.”

Recently, mindful travel has been growing in significance as a global travel trend. It refers to travel experiences that are purposeful and restorative, while soothing the mind, body and spirit. Travellers seeking a more mindful holiday experience will find one of the major benefits of a cruise is the carefree and relaxed holiday experience it provides.

As the pioneers of Freestyle Cruising, guests on an NCL cruise enjoy the freedom to do as little or as much as they like, with the flexibility to design their ideal holiday with no set schedule or dining times, flexible entertainment options and no formal dress codes. Combined with the benefit of being able to explore multiple destinations in a single trip while unpacking just once, there is more time to focus on unwinding and living in the moment.

While Australians await the end of travel restrictions, NCL is inviting travellers to enjoy the benefits of mindfulness from the comfort of their own home. The line has launched its first mindful colouring book for adults – 'Colour Your World' – tapping into the trend for colouring-in to help de-stress, re-focus and live 'in the moment'. The book is filled with illustrations to inspire both mindfulness and wanderlust, showcasing some of the destinations which will be visited by the company's newest ship, Norwegian Prima as part of her inaugural season when she launches in 2022 – sailing from Russia to Norway, the Baltics and beyond. In addition, an illustration of the ship itself has been produced by Manuel di Rita, AKA Peeta, who designed Norwegian Prima's striking hull artwork.

Request your complimentary copy or download colouring pages of Colour Your World here

While colouring in, listen to NCL's Relax and Unwind Spotify Playlist by scanning this code within your Spotify app:

For more information about the Company's award-winning 17-ship fleet and worldwide itineraries to more than 300 destinations, contact a travel professional, call NCL in Australia on 1300 255 200 or in New Zealand on 0800 969 283 or visit www.ncl.com.

Find a high-resolution image of the colouring book here.

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About Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL)

As the innovator in global cruise travel, NCL has been breaking the boundaries of traditional cruising for 54 years. Most notably, the cruise line revolutionised the industry by offering guests the freedom and flexibility to design their ideal holiday on their preferred schedule with no assigned dining and entertainment times and no formal dress codes. Today, its fleet of 17 contemporary ships sail to over 300 of the world's most desirable destinations, including Great Stirrup Cay, the company's private island in the Bahamas and its resort destination Harvest Caye in Belize.  NCL not only provides superior guest service from land to sea but also offers a wide variety of award-winning entertainment and dining options as well as a range of accommodation across the fleet, including solo-traveller staterooms, mini-suites, spa-suites and The Haven by Norwegian®, the company's ship-within-a-ship concept. For additional information or to book a cruise, contact a travel professional, call NCL in Australia on 1300 255 200 or in New Zealand on 0800 969 283 or visit www.ncl.com. For the latest news and exclusive content, visit the media center and follow NCL on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube @NorwegianCruiseLine; and Twitter and Snapchat @CruiseNorwegian.

NCL restarted its cruise operations on 25 July 2021 following a more than 500-day suspension, with Norwegian Jade launching seven-day itineraries to the Greek Isles. The company's fleetwide redeployment will continue in partnership with local governments and are guided by the robust protocols of the line's Sail Safe health and safety program, which at its cornerstone includes that all crew and guests must be fully vaccinated to embark for voyages through 31 December 2021. Working with the leading experts of the SailSAFETM Global Health and Wellness Council, NCL's protocols will be regularly evaluated and modified as needed, making science-based decisions to protect guests, crew and the destinations it visits. As protocols evolve and additional information becomes available, updates will be published at www.ncl.com/sail-safe

CONTACT:      

Anne Wild & Associates – PR Representatives for NCLH Australia and New Zealand

Leanne Fonagy

Phone: +61 402 842 808

Email: lfonagy@awassociates.com.au

Notes to editors: References

[i] The survey was conducted nationally by Omnipoll online, among n= 1,248 people aged 18+ from August 26-31, 2021.  To ensure the survey was as representative as possible, results were post weighted to Australian Bureau of Statistics data on age, sex, area, highest level of schooling completed, and employment status.